bookbashuk Chapter 584 Don't take the lead when you run away
Chapter 584 Don't take the lead when you run away
Ilya staggered a couple of steps, and the plant spirit in her arms flew out of her palm, its fleshy wings fluttering as it hovered on her shoulder, making a soft, rapid cooing sound.
Xu Si was somewhat surprised that he didn't run away after being thrown.
Ilya's boots slammed into the garden's stone pavement, producing a dull thud, while behind her came the clanging of clashing swords and the muffled groans of werewolf guards.
She could hear Ye Lang howling behind her, the sound of metal clashing, and the dull thud of something falling and hitting the muddy ground.
But she didn't turn around.
She remembered her father saying that when you run away, don't look back.
She didn't flee out of the city, but rather in the direction her father was.
The side gate is actually just a fence at the exit of a narrow alley, usually used to transport garden trimmings and waste.
When Ilya pushed open the fence, her fingertips were cut by rough wooden splinters, but she ignored the pain and could only squeeze into the narrow back alley that could only accommodate one person at a time.
Two nocturnal lizards, grayish-brown in color with a row of fine, short spines on their backs, were tethered to a stone post at the alley entrance. They were pacing anxiously, sensing the bloody smell emanating from the alley.
Ilya tore off the reins of one of them and climbed onto the lizard's back.
The night-walking lizard let out a hoarse shriek and suddenly darted out, speeding along the narrow alley, its hooves carving white marks into the stone pavement.
But the crimson-cloaked lion-man had already broken through the side gate's defenses. His figure flashed out from around the corner of the alley, the blood droplets on his blade drawing a thin arc in the air. He used the wall as leverage to push off, and his figure shot towards Ilya's back like a dark golden arrow.
"Young Miss is really putting me in a difficult position—"
His blade was less than three feet from Ilya's back.
Just before the blade was about to touch Ilya's back, it suddenly seemed to hit an invisible barrier, deflecting slightly and grazing past her.
The lion-man in the crimson cloak narrowed his eyes, pushed off the alley wall with his toes to regain his balance, and scanned his surroundings warily.
Xu Si stood in the shadow of the eaves less than ten steps away from them, still in the disguise of the Crystal Clan, his pale blue face revealing no expression.
"You—" The lion-man had barely uttered a word when a giant sword slashed down from behind, slamming his entire body into the alley wall. Spiderweb-like cracks appeared in the wall, and gravel rained down.
The Deer-Man City Lord sheathed his sword, his breathing rapid, and blood seeping from his tiger's mouth dripped down the hilt to the ground.
Ignoring his injuries, he charged towards the limp lion-man, chopped off his head, and then his gaze followed the slender figure of the night-walking lizard at the alley entrance.
"Ilya—" he called out.
The footsteps of the night-walking lizard stopped.
Ilya turned around, her pale purple eyes filled with shock, confusion, and fear.
"……Father?"
The Deer-Man City Lord did not approach or explain. He simply stood in the middle of the alley, his antlers covered in fine dust. His amber beast eyes fell on his daughter's face, as if trying to imprint her image deep in his memory.
"Follow this guest." He raised a hand and pointed to the eaves of a house not far from Ilya.
Xu Si emerged from the shadows, the outline of the Crystal Clan refracting cold blue light spots in the dim light.
Huh? Did I agree?
"You...it's you? Thank you for saving me, sir!" Ilya's voice trembled slightly.
The plant spirit on her shoulder turned around the moment it saw Xu Si, its backside facing him, even though it didn't have a face either.
Xu Si was both amused and exasperated by the Deer City Lord's finger gesture; they really weren't familiar with each other!
Entrusting one's precious daughter to him upon first meeting—who could resist that?
Of course, Xu Si wouldn't bring this little burden along when exploring this world.
However, for Ilya's sake, let's help her to the end and see it through to the end!
Solve the problem of Jinshi City, then just make his sword move deflect.
There's definitely no need to escape; even if you did, it would only be others who would escape.
"Father—" Ilya's voice trembled violently, her pale purple eyes filled with tears, and the night-walking lizard pawed restlessly under her, making low growling sounds.
It was clear that she was extremely reluctant to part with it.
As the father and daughter parted ways, Xu Si's gaze turned towards the outside of the city.
It seems I can't leave even if I want to.
"I think you'd better go up to the city wall and take a look!" Xu Si suddenly spoke up, interrupting the father and daughter's stammering farewell.
The Deerman City Lord's antlers tilted slightly, and a hint of alertness flashed in his amber-colored beast eyes.
His perception wasn't as sharp as Xu Si's, but the orc's innate intuition told him that what Xu Si said was definitely not unfounded.
How many people?
"About eight hundred have already entered the city gate."
The Deerman City Lord's pupils contracted sharply, and his knuckles gripping the greatsword turned white.
He already felt that something was off about all of this.
Under normal circumstances, how could the people of Jinshi City appear openly with weapons at the residence of their noble lady?
Under normal circumstances, how could the people of Jinshi City enter the city gate so openly?
That only proves one thing: ghosts have appeared in Deer City.
"Kingstone City has quite the grand gesture." His voice was extremely low, as if squeezed out from between his teeth.
"They never intended for me to live to receive that marriage certificate."
Ilya sat on the back of the night-walking lizard, her face already pale.
She had never witnessed a real war, but she could understand the weight of her father's words.
The plant spirit landed on her shoulder, its fleshy wings folding nervously, emitting a soft cooing sound.
"Father,……"
"Ilya, listen to me." The Deerman City Lord's tone suddenly calmed down, like the sea surface at the last moment before a storm.
"Follow this guest, and no matter what happens, don't look back. Remember, staying alive is more important than anything else."
"I can't leave my father behind!" Ilya cried out in anguish.
The antlers of the Deerman City Lord trembled slightly, as if struck by something soft.
He paused for a moment, then strode over to the night-walking lizard, extended his rough hand, and placed it on the back of his daughter's hand that was gripping the reins.
"Ilya, listen to me." His voice softened, and the hard, cold light in his beastly eyes was replaced by a warm emotion.
"I've made many decisions in my life, some right, some wrong. But betting the future of Deer City on a marriage certificate—that was the worst decision I ever made."
"Now I want to correct that mistake. You must live well in my place."
"Thank you very much." Without giving Xu Si a chance to refuse, he drew his sword and turned to head towards the city gate.
Xu Si was speechless. Was he in such a hurry to die?